6 Days Explore the Hidden Kingdom of Bhutan

On your arrival at Paro, the only International Airport in Bhutan, our guide and driver will receive and escort you to visit the National Museum housed in the 17th-century watchtower called Ta Dzong. The Museum displays a snapshot of Bhutan's history & rich cultural heritage.

From there we drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan and home to approximately 115,000 residents. This bustling little city is the main centre of commerce, religion and government in the country. It is the only capital city in the world without traffic lights.

Distance: 55km, Time: 1.5-Hours, Thimphu Altitude: 2,334m/7,655ft, Paro Altitude: 2,195m/7,200ft.

On arrival in Thimphu, visit the National Memorial Chorten, the most frequented religious site and an important landmark in Thimphu. The National Memorial Chorten is a Buddhist Stupa built in 1974 in memory of the late Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who passed away in 1972. People from all walks of life come here to pray and circumambulate offering you a good opportunity to observe how Bhutanese people devote themselves to daily prayers and take refuge in the teachings of the Lord Buddha.

We then drive to Kuensel Phodrang where the magnificent 169ft Buddha Dordhenma Statue is located overlooking the Thimphu valley. It was built to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of the Fourth King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck and also to usher peace in the world. 

Dinner and overnight at Kuenphen Rabten Resort or Hotel Amodhara

After breakfast, drive about 14km towards the north of Thimphu city and hike to one of the most important religious centers in Bhutan, the 13th century Tango Monastery. Following the trail through the forests, the walk uphill takes about 1.5 hours. Tango Monastery was originally founded in 1222 by the Tibetan scholar Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, who first established the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism in Bhutan and subsequently became the state religion. After the hike, drive back to the town where traditional lunch will be served at Folk Heritage Restaurant or at a similar one.

After lunch, visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum where 13 Bhutanese traditional arts & crafts are taught. You'll see youth getting hands-on training on carving ( Par Zo), mural painting (Lha Zo),  sculpting (Jim Zo ), tailoring, embroidery and applique( Tsem Zo), etc.

From here, we drive to Punakha valley via Dochula Pass. Distance from Thimphu to Punakha 74km, driving time 2.5 hours, Punakha altitude 1,200m

En route, we stop by briefly at Dochula, a sacred mountain pass that lies at 3120m above sea level. On a clear day, you can see some of the highest mountains of Bhutan. From Dochula Pass, we descend gradually to a much warmer valley within an hour and a half. On reaching the village of Sopsokha, visit the 15th-century Chimi Lhakhang famously known as the "Temple of Fertility". Couples who are unable to have children often visit this temple as it blesses them with fertility to bear offspring. Because of this belief, people like to call Chimi Lhakhang as “Temple of Fertility”.

From here if time permits, we drive about 11km to the main Punakha town and visit the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture, the 17th-century Punakha Dzong (fortress). The fortress showcases fine Bhutanese arts and craftsmanship that continues to influence Bhutanese architecture to this day. After you spend some time appreciating the intricate woodwork and sacred wall paintings, we walk to Bhutanese longest suspension bridge that runs over the Phochu river. Punakha Dzong is built on the confluence of two glacial-fed rivers, Phochu (male) and Mochu (female).

The driver will be waiting on the other side of the bridge and then drive to Namgay Zam Homestay in the village of Yusakha for overnight. Staying at the village homestay is a perfect way to experience the life of an ordinary Bhutanese family. You can participate in preparing your dinner and learn how to cook some of the popular dishes of Bhutan. If interested, you can also soak in a traditional hot stone bath believed to have a therapeutic and revitalizing effect. If this homestay is not available, you’ll stay at Meri Puensum Resort.

After breakfast, hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten located on a mountain ridge and visit the historic Punakha Dzong before we drive to Phobjikha valley.

The hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten takes about 2-3 hours round trip through the terraced rice fields and a short uphill climb before reaching the serene sacred site on the hilltop overlooking fertile Punakha valley. After the hike, return back to the road head and drive to Punakha town for lunch. If you haven't visited the Punakha Dzong, we will do so before lunch.

After lunch, transfer to Phobjikha valley. Phobjikha is a vast U-shaped glacial valley at an elevation of about 3,000m/9,840ft and it is a winter home for endangered Black-necked Crane from November until they migrate back to the Tibetan Plateau in March.

Distance from Punakha to Phobjikha valley 80km, Driving time 3-hours, Phobjikha valley altitude 3000m

On arrival in Phobjikha valley, visit the famous landmark in Phobjikha valley, a 17th-century Gangtey Monastery popularly known as Gangtey Gonpa (gonpa literally means “remote place” and is usually a place of religious significance). Founded in 1613, this is one of the largest monasteries in Bhutan. The monastery also has a monastic college where hundreds of monks study Buddhist philosophy.. An annual religious festival, Gangtey Tshechu, is held at this majestic monastery during autumn when the harvest season is just over. A series of dazzling sacred mask dances interspersed by Bhutanese folk dances are performed during this festival.

Overnight at Dewachen Resort or Yue-Loki Guesthouse

After breakfast, visit a new monastery next to Gangtey Monastery and then venture out on an exhilarating Gangtey Nature Trail Hike. The Gangtey Nature Trail is about 5km and takes approximately 2.5 hours through the woods surrounded by splendid nature all around, wonderful meadows, beautiful traditional village houses, farmlands and crystalline streams. This short nature trail gives you a great feeling of the valley and an understanding of the local inhabitant's livelihood. Lots of opportunities to take beautiful pictures!

After lunch, you will be transferred back to Paro valley. The road distance is 175km and takes about 5-hours.

Dinner and overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort

After early breakfast, you'll hike to the famous Paro Taktsang popularly known as Tiger's Nest located on the face of a sheer 800-meter rock cliff above the Paro valley. The round-trip hike normally takes about 4-5 hours for most visitors but you can hike at your own pace. We recommend starting early. Oneway horse riding is available up to the midpoint (Taktsang Viewpoint Cafeteria) for about USD20. Horse riding is not recommended on your way down.

The history of Taktsang monastery is associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava, the Indian saint who came to Bhutan and introduced Tantric Buddhism in the mid-eighth century A.D. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava flew to Taktsang from Kurtoe Singye Dzong in eastern Bhutan, riding on a tigress and meditated in one of the caves on which Taktsang Monastery was originally built in 1692 . Lunch will be served at the Taktsang cafeteria and then we retrace our steps back to the base where our driver will be waiting.

Towards the late afternoon, visit Aum Choden Homestay or a similar one for authentic home-cooked local cuisine. If you are interested, you can soak in a traditional hot stone bath believed to have a therapeutic and revitalizing effect for an additional fee of about US$20 charged by the owner. Specially selected stones containing minerals are heated in a wood-fired fireplace and dropped into a chamber of wooden tub releasing minerals. You can also take part in preparing your dinner and learn how to cook some of the popular dishes of Bhutan.

Overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Paro International Airport for your onward journey depending on your departure time. Our guide and drive will bid you farewell.